The Cantonists - by Josef Mendelevich (Hardcover)

About the Book

Aiming to create a homogeneous population, between 1827 and 1856 the Russian government implemented their malicious plan of forcefully converting Jewish children by conscripting them into harsh military frameworks. About 75,000 children were abducted from their parents. However, the Russians failed in their struggle against the children. Despite cruel punishments, 75% refused to convert to Christianity.

Book Synopsis

Aiming to create a homogeneous population, between 1827 and 1856 the Russian government implemented their malicious plan of forcefully converting Jewish children by conscripting them into harsh military frameworks. About 75,000 children were abducted from their parents. However, the Russians failed in their struggle against the children. Despite cruel punishments, 75% refused to convert to Christianity.

Review Quotes

"Within the darkness and oppression of Russia during the mid-19th century, The Cantonists shows the power of Jewish destiny. It shows how Jewish parents could, in a few years, raise boys to withstand a ruthless and evil bureaucracy."

- Ben Rothke, The Times of Israel

"A historical work of deep scholarly insight and emotional resonance, the book is the result of decades of research and draws on newly uncovered documents from Russian imperial archives. For Rabbi Mendelevich, the book is not just a personal achievement, it's a way of reclaiming and illuminating a forgotten chapter of Jewish resilience. He hopes the work will challenge assumptions, inspire further inquiry, and deepen readers' understanding of both Jewish endurance and Russian imperial policy. It's not just a book for academics, he said, "it's for anyone who cares about Jewish history, identity, and survival."

-- The Jewish Link

"The world recognizes Yosef Mendelevich as a proud Jew and spectacular hero who challenged the Soviet Empire. This new volume reveals another aspect of this unique Jew. After his 1981 release from prison and his subsequent aliyah, Reb Yosef became both a rabbinic and academic scholar. This will become evident when one studies the English translation of his expanded master's thesis on the Cantonists. Rabbi Mendelevich attained this degree at the Jerusalem affiliate of Touro University. Published originally in Hebrew, it will now be available to a much wider and appreciative readership.

I am also pleased to note that the English version is published in tribute to our great mentor and cherished family friend Rabbi Dr. Aharon Rakeffet. He is indeed a most inspiring Torah teacher. Among his many accomplishments was his teaching Torah in the Soviet Union during the last decade of Communism. His friendship and support of Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich are the natural outcome of this mission.

Touro University is indeed proud to have both Rabbis Mendelevich and Rakeffet as distinguished members of our scholarly community."

-- Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, Executive Vice president, Touro University

About the Author

Josef Mendelevich was born in Soviet Latvia and pursued studies in communications engineering. A prominent advocate for human rights and Jewish national rights, he was sentenced in 1970 to twelve years in prison for his activism. In 1981, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he has since dedicated his life to education and Jewish scholarship.

He holds a rabbinic certificate from Israel's Chief Rabbinate and earned an M.A. in Jewish History from Touro College. Josef is an esteemed lecturer on Jewish history, speaking to audiences around the globe, and teaches Jewish studies at Machon Meir in Jerusalem.